The Draper City Council has asked for an ordinance to be
drawn up that specifically addresses how feral cats are to be handled within
the city limits. The conclusion was reached during the study session on Jan. 17
after a presentation by the Draper Police Department.

The presentation was given by Administrative Sergeant Chad
Carpenter, who explained to the city council a feral cat is defined as a cat
that is not domesticated.

“First generation of feral cats are stray cats who were
domesticated at some point, they got loose. The second generation and so on are
feral cats,” Carpenter said. “They are not considered wild because of prior
domestication of the species.”

According to Carpenter, the main issue with feral cats is
they can spread diseases such as ringworm, parasitic worms, cat scratch fever
and toxoplasmosis. In addition, feral cats will still kill small animals even
if fed.

Carpenter explained there are two different ways to control
the feral cat population. One way is to trap, neuter and return (TNR) the cat
back into the community. After the cat is neuter or spayed, one of its ears is
clipped to mark it as one that has been neutered. According to Carpenter, the
TNR method is supported by the Utah Humane Society and is the standard practice
for Salt Lake County.

The other method is to trap and euthanize. Carpenter said
this is the most common practice and is supported by People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA).

“The reason why is because feral cats only have a lifespan
of about two years. They can become unhealthy,” Carpenter said. “This is why
PETA says to not feed them and then euthanize them.”

The current practices in Draper are to trap feral cats. If
the cat does not have a docked ear and is therefore not part of TNR or if the
cat is unhealthy, the cat is euthanized.

Between July and December 2016, there were 33 cats released
by Draper Animal Control. “Those were to the humane society and to different entities where
they could be adopted out,” Carpenter said. “They weren’t necessarily feral
cats. They were strays. We didn’t keep track of what was feral and what was
stray.”

Currently, Draper does not have a policy specifically
addressing feral cats. It does, however, have a police on stray animals.

“If you catch a wild or stray animal, you only have so many
hours to contact Draper Animal Control to come and pick it up,” Carpenter said.

According to Carpenter, Sandy City does have an ordinance
that addresses both stray and feral cats.

“The only thing they’ve added is it’s unlawful to leave food
for wild animals, including feral cats, unless it’s on their own property or on
property where they have been given permission to do so,” Carpenter said.

Members of the Draper City Council agreed some type of
ordinance needs to be drawn up. It was not determined when that would be.